Mexico’s Federal Civil Aviation Agency has approved the latest version of Honda Aircraft’s Advanced Performance Modification Group (APMG) upgrade for classic and earlier APMG-upgraded HondaJets based in the country. The APMG S package can be installed at Honda Aircraft’s headquarters service center in Greensboro, North Carolina, or any of the 21 authorized service centers, including Mexico-based Avemex.

Performance enhancements with the APMG S upgrade include a 300-pound mtow increase to 10,700 pounds; the advanced steering augmentation system nosewheel mod for improved handling and crosswind capability; and Garmin avionics improvements with faster processing speed, TOLD management for computing V-speeds, climb/approach gradients, required runway length, and other features, as well as Garmin’s Flight Stream 510 for wireless flight plan transfer.

Other modifications include removing wing fences and increasing the horizontal stabilizer’s span. Compared to the classic HondaJet, the APMG-modified jet requires 440 feet less runway length, and it also has steep approach certification, according to Honda Aircraft.

“We are excited to provide our customers in Mexico the opportunity to upgrade their aircraft with the advanced technology and performance of more recent iterations of the award-winning HondaJet,” said Amod Kelkar, senior v-p and chief commercial officer at Honda Aircraft. “We are pursuing additional international certifications and hope to expand availability of the APMG S upgrade package to more HondaJet customers around the world soon.”

Garmin has expanded FliteCharts and SafeTaxi databases to include Mexico and Bahamas coverage. Pilots can purchase the databases for installed avionics or to display on the Garmin Pilot app. In the app, the U.S. Premium subscription includes Bahamas charts, and Latin America Premium subscribers get Mexico charts.

FliteCharts are georeferenced terminal procedures charts, and SafeTaxi charts, also georeferenced, show the aircraft’s location on the airport relative to airport hotspots, runways, taxiways, FBOs, and buildings. Users can view hold short lines overlaid on the airport diagram as well.

Garmin recommends buying the Bahamas and Mexico databases in the Americas OnePak or North American device bundle, but the North America (FliteCharts) and Americas (SafeTaxi) databases are also available standalone. The new databases were released with the May 2026 cycle.

Other recent features in Garmin Pilot include the ability to add comments on airports and FBOs and graphical notam depictions on SmartCharts.

Freeman Holdings Group, the largest franchisee of the Million Air FBO chain, is adding hangar space at several of its facilities. The developments will allow for increased aircraft storage capacity at Grant County International Airport (KMWH) in Moses Lake, Washington; at Utah’s St. George Regional Airport (KSGU); and at Orlando Sanford International Airport (KSFB) in central Florida.

At KMWH, the 40,000-sq-ft hangar now under construction will have 30,825 sq ft of aircraft storage space and 8,375 sq ft dedicated to integrated office suites with bathrooms and showers. The structure—which will more than quadruple the FBO’s existing hangar space upon completion in January 2027—will accommodate up to two Boeing Business Jet-class aircraft or a single B757 on a long-term basis, with provisions for shorter-term commitments for smaller aircraft.

Million Air St. George will soon break ground on a 22,500-sq-ft hangar. Also slated for completion in January, it will be the largest hangar on the field—capable of accommodating aircraft up to a Gulfstream G650 or Bombardier Global 6000—and will bring the facility up to more than 48,000 sq ft of aircraft shelter.

Lastly, at Million Air Orlando’s (KSFB) full-service facility, work is progressing on a 30,500-sq-ft hangar designed to accommodate the latest ultra-long-range business jets. With an anticipated completion date by June, it will bring the FBO to nearly 53,000 sq ft of aircraft shelter.

Banyan Air Service, an FBO at Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE), has joined the list of aircraft service providers that will not charge special event fees for the FIFA World Cup, which starts next month in 16 cities across North America.

KFXE is a 25-minute drive from Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, which will host seven tournament matches starting on June 15. This includes four group-stage games, a round of 32 match, a quarter-final, and the July 18 Bronze Final.

FIFA’s quadrennial championship is the world’s largest sporting event. As a member of the U.S. Customs Reimbursable Services Program (RSP) and the sole provider at KFXE offering customs services, Banyan will provide flexibility for international arrivals.

Though the FBO expects increased activity levels throughout the event period, it decided to maintain its standard pricing structure and plans to support aircraft handling, scheduling, and guest services without disruption.

“Large-scale international events often lead to temporary pricing adjustments across the industry,” said Banyan COO Jon Tonko. “Our approach is deliberate—to invest in the infrastructure, staffing, and planning required to support elevated traffic levels while maintaining the service standards our customers rely on. Choosing not to impose event fees reflects both our operational readiness and our long-term commitment to customer partnership.”

DAS Aviation and AQRD Engineering have developed a fastener modification for Phenom 300 operators to address inlet fastener concerns and improve reliability.

SkyKraft, the joint venture between sustainable aviation fuel producer SkyNRG and Swedish power company Skellefteå Kraft, has received a €21 million ($24.4 million) grant from the Swedish Energy Agency’s Industriklivet Initiative to support the development of the planned sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production facility in the port city of Skellefteå.

Industriklivet co-finances industrial projects that reduce fossil emissions, and this award will support the next phase of Project SkyKraft’s feasibility work, including the design and engineering activities needed to prepare for final investment decision (FID) in 2027. Once operational, the facility will produce up to 130,000 tonnes of eSAF a year using renewable electricity and environmental CO2.

SkyKraft is SkyNRG’s third facility, which joins Project Wigeon in the U.S.—a renewable natural gas to SAF project—and DSL-01, a large-scale SAF plant in the Netherlands that reached FID earlier this year.

With jet fuel prices continuing to soar amid a global fuel crisis, and many airlines lagging behind their targets for implementing eSAF, the grant comes at an important moment for the renewable fuels sector in Europe.

“The geopolitical situation and what is currently happening in the global fuel markets show how important it is to get away from dependence on fossil imports,” said Caroline Asserup, director general at the Swedish Energy Agency. “This investment provides synergies as we can both reduce emissions and…build up domestic production of aviation fuel.”

The Kodiak Owners and Pilots Society (KOPS), 11 Aviation, and Travers Aviation Insurance launched an insurance incentive program offering owners and operators of Daher Kodiak turboprop singles a 10% hull premium dividend for investing in training, community participation, and safety.

Qualifying owners who join KOPS and complete additional training with 11 Aviation, along with required annual recurrent training, can receive a dividend equal to 10% of the physical damage coverage premium, excluding war risk, minus all physical damage claims.

The program begins with KOPS membership, providing access to fly-outs, safety seminars, owner roundtables, and gatherings. Members then complete training with 11 Aviation, led by Mark Brown, a Kodiak pilot with more than 9,000 hours in type. This includes initial type training and annual recurrent training, with specialized instruction in mountain operations, seaplane work, and off-airport landings available.

“Initial and recurrent training are the foundation. That is where safety lives,” said Brown, founder and president of 11 Aviation. “When training is paired with KOPS membership and the Travers insurance program, owners gain more than insurance perks. They gain a stronger operating environment.”

“The value of this program is in the combined effect,” said Chris Travers, partner at Travers Aviation Insurance. “KOPS membership, 11 Aviation training, and insurance coverage placed through the program create a safety-focused operating profile that participating carriers recognize as meaningfully different.”

Total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from global flight activity have continued to increase, despite progress by the airline sector in cutting “carbon intensity” on a revenue tonne kilometer (RTK) basis, according to new analysis by the IBA consultancy. A report issued yesterday shows CO2 emissions in 2025 were higher than pre-Covid levels at 960 million tonnes, representing a 2.7% increase over 2019 due to traffic growth.

The overall increase occurred even though aircraft operators reduced carbon intensity from 860 grams per RTK in 2018 to 690 grams, representing a 20% improvement. IBA’s analysts said the contrast between the two sets of figures highlights challenges the industry faces in meeting its target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

“While airlines are transporting passengers and cargo more efficiently than ever before, the growth in overall flight activity is continuing to offset many of these operational gains,” IBA reported. “The data shows that global CO2 intensity has followed a gradual downward trend since 2018, while total emissions have steadily recovered and [have] now surpassed pre-pandemic levels.”

The IBA report also tracked regional variations in carbon emissions. For instance, in North America, emissions intensity dropped from 920 grams in 2018 to 760 grams in 2025, but total emissions increased from 50 million tonnes to almost 60 million tonnes.

The U.S. Senate approved a slate of four dozen administration appointments yesterday, including Daniel Edwards as Department of Transportation assistant secretary of aviation and international affairs and Michael Graham for another five-year term as a member of the NTSB. The 46-to-43 en bloc approval on Monday followed a procedural vote last week to clear the way for floor action.

The reappointment of Graham comes after the White House named him NTSB vice chairman, filling a slot vacated last year after the White House ousted Alvin Brown from the safety agency. A former naval aviator, Graham joined the Safety Board in January 2020 after serving as director of flight operations safety, security, and standardization at Textron Aviation, and as chair of the Air Charter Safety Foundation.

A former U.S. Air Force aviator, Edwards had been DOT principal deputy assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs and, before that, served as CEO of maintenance, repair, and overhaul businesses, along with supply chain and distribution.

Their appointments were widely welcomed in the aviation industry. GAMA president and CEO James Viola, noting the importance of the roles to the industry, said Edwards “has a keen understanding of the issues and policies that are important to innovation and the advancement of the general aviation industry.” He also noted Graham’s “deep knowledge of aviation that is well respected within the industry.”